Biodiversity hypothesis of health

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Diagram of biodiversity hypothesis[1]

According to the biodiversity hypothesis, reduced contact of

inflammatory diseases – are interconnected.[1][2][3]

Urbanization and fragmentation of habitats increasingly lead to loss of connection between human and natural environment. Furthermore, immunological non-communicable diseases have become increasingly common in recent decades especially in urbanized communities.[4]

The microbes of natural environment influence human health

Many immunological inflammatory diseases, such as

parasites (parasites still play an essential role in regulation of immune response[7]
).

According to the core message of the biodiversity hypothesis, it is essential to the development of our immune system that we are sufficiently exposed to

proteins. Functional immune system discriminates threatening particles from the harmless ones and products of one's own cells from foreign ones. Present populations of cities evidently have marks of chronic inflammation as a result of weakening immune defence.[8][9]

Prevention of inflammatory diseases and maintenance of health

Mild

mental disorders. Prevention of many of these diseases have been improved by affecting known risk factors, but they explain only a fraction of chronic diseases and have not revealed the bottom reasons of increasing incidence of allergies.[9]

When health benefits that are based on

symptoms to prevention, for example by emphasizing connection to natural environment.[11]

Practical recommendations to obtain and maintain tolerance[12]
Support breastfeeding, solid foods from the age of 4–6 months.
Do not avoid environmental exposure unnecessarily.
Strengthen
immunity by increasing connection to natural environment
.
Use
microbes are useful and support health
.
immunity
.

Exposure to microbes

We are exposed to

digestive system and skin contact.[1] The habitat we live in and the food we eat influence greatly to our microbiota.[6] Our own way of living and our choices — how we live, eat, move and what are our recreational activities — impacts on the amount of valuable microbe exposure. The amount as well as the microbial diversity of exposure are essential factors.[13]

For example, youth living in

rural environments.[15]

Risks

Traditionally,

allergies was to avoid exposure as now it is known that exposure is essential to develop immune system.[16] While increasing healthy exposure to microbes it is essential for achieving the benefits to acknowledge and reduce the risk of being exposed to [pathogens].[9]

Microbial exposure of future mothers and children

A

Vaginal birth and breastfeeding are influential ways to increase the exposure of baby to mother's microbes and therefore further the development of immune system.[17]

schools are functional places to increase microbial exposure as they encompass whole age groups at its best. From public health point of view, it would be functional to focus on sufficient microbial exposure in kindergartens and schools, in which case the exposure does not rely on families' way of life.[18]

Anyhow, microbiotas of human body change throughout life and therefore all age groups benefit from being exposed to the microbes of natural environment.[9] One's own way of life and choices related to housing, nutrition and movement are in an essential role in that exposure. Immune system can be strengthened throughout life with increased and diverse contact with nature. Immune system function weakens with age and therefore regular contact to natural environment is important to elders too.[9]

Urban planning

Urbanisation is a global trend. While urban structure is condensing, it is important to conserve urban nature.[19] From a viewpoint of biodiversity hypothesis, urban planning should take into account both holistic health and wellbeing benefits of nature and possibilities of citizens to be exposed to biodiverse natural environments and microbes. Functionally, exposure takes place near home and daily routes. In city center there is usually less forests than outskirts, but parks and different built natural elements can be exploited also in highly constructed areas.[18]

In terms of nature contact of children and the elderly, the quality of the near environment is particularly important, as the mobility circle is more limited than the working age population. Functional natural elements in yards of kindergartens, schools, sheltered homes and retirement homes could be e.g. cultivation boxes, fruit trees, berry bushes, green roofs and walls and gardens. Forests and parks must be located close for being easy to use in everyday life, during lessons and walks.[18] Deadwood can be left to forests and parks to promote biodiversity and inspire movement. Self-sufficient mobility of the elderly is supported by sufficient density of benches. Planning of healthy habitats requires cooperation between sectors — at least zoning, recreation and exercise, management of green and blue infrastructure, construction, environment, health care, and education.[citation needed]

Needs for further understanding

It is not yet clear, what amount of exposure is needed, how the microbes of environment precisely get in system and what are relations between different microbes. Is visiting natural environments occasionally enough or should we be exposed to the microbes of natural environment in our everyday life?[9]

Anyhow, it is evident that we get multiple health and wellbeing benefits from nature.[20][21] Despite there remains several open questions related to the biodiversity hypothesis, it has been proposed that we should still take it into account in urban and regional planning and build healthy and biodiverse cities.[9][8]

See also

  • Nature Based Solutions

References

  1. ^
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  2. ^
    PMID 22566627
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  3. ^
    PMID 23663440
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  4. S2CID 26889807
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  5. ^ Pawankar R, Canonica GC, Holgate ST, Loceky RF, World Allergy Organisation (WAO). White book on allergy 2011.
  6. ^
    S2CID 19752352
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  7. PMID 11964470
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  8. ^
    PMID 29426121
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  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Haahtela T, Hanski I, von Herzen L, Jousilahti P, Laatikainen T, Mäkelä M, et al. (2017). "Luontoaskel tarttumattomien tulehdustautien torjumiseks" [A natural step in the fight against non-communicable inflammatory diseases]. Duodecim (in Finnish). 133: 19–26.
  10. ^ Jantunen J, Kauppi P, Linna M, Martikainen J, Mäkelä M, Pelkonen A, Haahtela T (2014). "Astman ja allergian kustannukset ovat suuret mutta laskussa" [The costs of asthma and allergies are high but declining.]. Suomen Lääkärilehti (in Finnish). 69 (9): 641–6.
  11. ^ a b Haahtela T, Valovirta E, Hannuksela M, Von Hertzen L, Jantunen J, Kauppi P, et al. (2015). "Kansallinen allergiaohjelma 2008-2018 puolivälissä: suunnanmuutos tuo tuloksia" [National Allergy Program 2008-2018: A change of direction brings results.] (PDF). Suomen Lääkärilehti (in Finnish). 70 (35): 2165–72.
  12. S2CID 40882256
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  13. PMID 26121165
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  14. S2CID 3355236
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  15. PMID 28361981
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  16. PMID 24908147
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  17. ^ a b Rautava S (2015). "Lapsen varhaisen mikrobikontaktin terveysvaikutukset" [Health effects of early microbial contact in a child]. Duodecim (in Finnish). 131: 2099–2106.
  18. ^ a b c Paloniemi R, Tiitu M, Viinikka A, Vikström S, Furman E. Promoting health through interaction with nature in urban areas. SYKE Policy Brief. (Report). Helsinki: Finnish environment institute SYKE.
  19. ^ Vierikko K, Salminen J, Niemelä J, Jalkanen J, Tamminen N (2014). Helsingin kestävä viherrakenne: Miten turvata kestävä viherrakenne ja kaupunkiluonnon monimuotoisuus tiivistyvässä kaupunkirakenteessa-kaupunkiekologinen tutkimusraportti [Helsinki's sustainable green structure: How to secure a sustainable green structure and the diversity of urban nature in a condensing urban structure - urban ecological research report]. Helsingin kaupunkisuunnitteluvirasto (Report) (in Finnish).
  20. PMID 23466828
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  21. S2CID 1894140
    .
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